As a person who loves fair chase hunting, there are few animals as appealing as the Aoudad. Also known as Barbary sheep, these sturdy animals are native to the arid mountains of North Africa. Fortunately for us, they are also found in the Southwest United States. These are animals that can push 300 pounds at the top end. Their long, curved horns and flowing hair on their throats and forelegs make them unique in the Southwest. More than anything, their climbing skills and ability to disappear are legendary. This fantastic animal had been on my list for some time, but it became a reality after I received an invitation to hunt with Ruger. I would finally be chasing Aoudad.
Chasing Aoudad – Hunting in Southwest Texas
The destination would be far Southwest Texas. We would be hunting with Steve Jones of Backcountry Hunts. Steve is a legend in the hunting world, and many of you reading this will know his name. The rifle for this adventure would be the Ruger SFAR chambered in .308 WIN. This was a fantastic rifle and performed well. As of now, Ruger has suspended production, but I hope their expansion will bring it back. Another rifle that would be on the top of my list is the Ruger American Gen II. I have used this rifle on other hunts and would feel very confident using it for Aoudad.
Hornady Ammo
Ammo-wise, we would be going heavy using Hornady 308 Win 178 gr ELD‑X Precision Hunter. These rounds have the weight, velocity, and performance that we would need on these hefty animals.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
The ranch we were hunting spanned over 50,000 acres, so we drove to high glassing points to search. On our first early morning, we spotted a good group of Aoudad grazing on a far ridgeline. The challenge was that they were close to a mile and a half away, with two deep canyons between us. There was a good-sized ram in the mix, so we loaded up and started the trek.
Serious Terrain
After feeling like we had scaled Everest, we made it to the ridgeline. As you can guess, we were there alone with nothing but a few prints and Aoudad scat left behind. This is the truth of hunting, however, and I was ready to just accept the long hike back to the truck. As we sat there gasping for air, something caught my eye about 25 yards away behind some pinion brush. I leaned forward and locked eyes with the exact ram we had come for.
Struggling to stifle my “Oh Crap” feeling, I slowly moved my rifle up and started to shoulder it. At that moment, the big ram decided it was time to part ways and bolted forward and started down the hill. Determined to get him, I moved quickly to the edge of what turned out to be another small canyon. I stood amazed for a moment as this hefty animal elegantly dashed down the rocky wall towards the stream bed. His speed was impressive, and I began to believe I may have missed my chance. Then, for reasons unknown, once at the bottom, he stopped and looked up at me. This would be a mistake on his part.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
A Clear Shot
He was only 175 yards out and standing broadside. I recognized that it was now or never, and I drove the SFAR into my shoulder. One smooth press, and the next thing I heard was the “womp” of the round hitting him just behind the shoulder. He collapsed to the ground, and I paused for a moment. At that point, he decided it would be a good idea to get up and run.
Once again, I was stunned at his speed and agility as he climbed the other side of the canyon. I brought my rifle up and made a ridiculous, hasty shot that missed by a mile. He cut back a bit and continued his climb, now at 275 yards. Just as he slowed to get around a bush, I fired again and made good contact. He collapsed for the final time.
Chasing Aoudad
The combination of the SFAR and the Hornady 178 gr ELC-X was the perfect mix on this hunt. The precision and reliability of the SFAR made the shot possible and successful. While I have seen hunters take bigger rams, this one was a special animal to me. The work we put in to get him and the luck I experienced will make this one of the most memorable hunts of my life. If you ever get the opportunity to hunt Aoudad, I can’t encourage you enough to say yes. It is real work done in a challenging environment, but it is worth every second.
Advertisement — Continue Reading Below
For more information, visit Ruger.
WHY OUR ARTICLES/REVIEWS DO NOT HAVE AFFILIATE LINKS Affiliate links create a financial incentive for writers to promote certain products, which can lead to biased recommendations. This blurs the line between genuine advice and marketing, reducing trust in the content
